Rep. Scott Tipton: We fought to keep government open

U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, issued this statement after political gridlock forced a government shutdown at midnight Tuesday and the Senate refused to go to conference on the continuing resolution Tuesday morning:

We fought late into the night Monday to keep government open, pass a continuing resolution that listens to the concerns of our constituents and conference with the Senate. The Senate refused to negotiate on any portion of Obamacare, including creating fair treatment for all Americans under the law, removing special treatment for Congress or repealing the costly medical device tax that is raising the cost of care and costing jobs. It’s disappointing that the president and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., won’t sit down and discuss the issue of why they think the American people shouldn’t receive the same exemptions that they gave to big business or why Congress should be exempt from the laws it passes.

As I’ve said throughout this process, my constituents have sent a strong message that they do not want Obamacare because it’s raising health care costs, restricting access to care and costing jobs in our communities.

The House is listening to the concerns of our constituents and has done everything possible to effectively address Obamacare and keep the government open. It’s unfortunate that the Senate and president would rather force a government shutdown than listen to Americans or even have a conversation about possible alternatives to Obamacare to create a truly affordable and accessible health care system.

On Monday night, we voted once more to heed the call of the American people by sending legislation for the third time to the Senate to keep the government open, as well as to go to conference with the Senate. We fought to require equal treatment for all Americans under Obamacare by delaying the individual mandate and repealing the unfair subsidies that the president issued for Congress. There should be no special treatment in Obamacare for Congress or anybody else, and since the president already has exempted businesses and other special interests from the Obamacare train wreck, he needs to do the same for hard-working American families and individuals.

Despite this, the Senate voted down the continuing resolution that would have treated all Americans fairly under Obamacare and even went as far as to refuse to go to conference with the House to work out a solution to keep the government open. It’s deeply troubling that the Senate and president are willing to shut down government in order to protect special treatment for some, including Obamacare carve-outs for Congress, while hard-working Americans are forced to bear the burden of this bad law.

We can do better in this country, and I am committed to continuing to listen to my constituents and fight for an affordable and accessible health care system that treats all Americans fairly under the law and am hopeful that the Senate will start doing the same.

Tipton is a Colorado-elected member of the United States Congress who supports a number of patient-centered alternatives to Obamacare, including the Empowering Patient’s First Act (H.R. 2300) which would implement a health care system that is affordable and accessible to all Americans.

Comments

Does Mr. Tipton even bother to actually read what he writes? Since when does a law passed by Congress, signed by the President, vetted by the Supreme Court, and prevailing over 40-plus attempts at being gutted by Republican representatives require meetings to find a compromise on its implementation? The Affordable Care Act is a done deal; get over it. If Republicans have specific grievances about the process, then let them propose remedies and solutions as the system comes into play. For Mr. Tipton and his Republican cronies to dig their heels in now, basically trying to extort the country into abandoning or seriously modifying the scope and intent of the program, before it has even had a chance to make an impact while blaming Democrats for being recalcitrant is sophistry of the worst sort. Beside putting 800,000 government employees out of work and making the US government appear more dysfunctional than an Italian coalition government, Republicans are setting a dangerous precedent for future legislation in that if the opposition party doesn't like it, it can simply threaten to put the government into deep freeze. Just keep digging that hole Mr. Tipton. Soon it will be deep enough to bury not just you and your party but everyone else as well.

This man is piece of garbage. He won't even take the time to answer the letters sent to him by the voters, even when they are hand delivered to him in person face to face.
This idiot does not deserve to recieve anyones vote and he is not worthy of the office he holds because he is not fulfilling his biggest obligation to stay in touch with the voters.
When a politician will not answer a voters questions or letters then I consider that politician to be dishonest and corrupt.
He will NEVER get my vote for any office.